Uppercut - A Powerful and Devastating Punch
When fighting at close range, the uppercut can be a devastatingly effective punch. If done with the proper technique, an uppercut to the chin can be quite powerful and can knockout an opponent. In science class we learn that force equals mass times acceleration. Therefore, in order to have a powerful uppercut you need to get your body weight behind the punch or to increase the speed of the punch or some combination of the two.
In Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do classes, the uppercut is required knowledge for a gold belt with a green stripe. If you want to have a powerful uppercut, it is important to get your body weight behind the punch. If you just move your arm up to execute the punch, then it will not be as effective since there is not much weight behind your arm. To execute an uppercut from a fighting stance with your hands in guard (just below eye height) start by bending your knees. You want to bend your knees enough so that your fist is below your opponent's chin. Next, you will begin to straighten your legs quickly. This will get more of your body weight behind the punch making it more devastating. Right before you make contact with your opponent's chin and while your legs are still moving you want to start moving your fist quickly from your guard upwards striking your opponent under their chin. The arm itself should not need to travel real far since your legs are helping to drive your punch. In fact, you will probably only need to move your fist upwards from where it started just below eye height to a little past the top of your head.
The following video shows some uppercut knockouts. While watching the video, look to see which uppercuts included leg movement in the technique. For example, the fourth uppercut in the video at around the 3:35 mark you will notice that the fighter in the white trunks is driving upwards with his legs while delivering the uppercut.
